Et tu, Tony?: Sen. Avella opposes Koch Bridge

Freshman Sen. Tony Avella released a statement opposing NYC’s plans to rename the Queensboro Bridge (also known as the 59th Street Bridge) after Ed Koch.

Avella served as an aide to Koch. He wrote to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council speaker Christine Quinn at the end of February to express his opposition. From his statement:

“Despite my deep affinity and respect for Mayor Koch, I think it is completely inappropriate to be naming the Queensboro Bridge after him at this time,” stated Avella. “First of all there should be a moratorium on all bridge renaming while the City is facing a fiscal crisis. In addition, this renaming flies in the face the general rule against the naming of public structures in honor of living persons.”

Since 1909, when it was originally opened, the bridge has helped to transform Queens from a simple urban outpost into the second most populated borough in New York City today.

Avella continued, “As a lifelong Queens resident and as an elected official representing parts of Queens, it is particularly disturbing to see a Hallmark of Queens history stripped of its association to the borough.”